Chronic pelvic pain syndrome and comorbidity

The diagnosis of chronic pelvic pain syndrome takes into account the fact that no clear etiology has been identified underlying chronic prostatitis and its associations with multiple somatic and psychological complaints. Based on a representative survey, this study enquires into the prevalence of pelvic pain in the community, its association with sexual dysfunction, somatic complaints and aging. Of the 770 men surveyed, 60 (7.8%) fulfilled the criteria for pelvic pain syndrome. This was assessed by a validated Giessen Prostatitis Symptom Score. Sexual dysfunction (particularly erectile dysfunction and loss of libido) were more frequently reported by men with pelvic pain than by men without a pain syndrome. The great majority of men afflicted by pelvic pain complained of additional pain symptoms (particularly back and joint pain) and fatigue. While sexual and somatic complaints were age-associated in the asymptomatic men, this was not the case for the symptomatic men. Our findings stress the fact that chronic pelvic pain syndrome is a major health problem in middle and late adulthood in men. Differentiated knowledge about comorbidity is a prerequisite for developing new interdisciplinary approaches to the diagnosis and therapy of this to date unsatisfactorily treated syndrome.